Student accommodation proposed for city centre office building site

Plans have been lodged for the demolition of a Leeds city centre office building and construction of a 200-bed student accommodation scheme.Brigade Central LLP has submitted a full planning application to Leeds City Council for development on the site of Brigade House on Kirkstall Road.The site is currently occupied by the head office of W Denis. The company secured planning permission earlier this year (September 2023) for the extension and remodelling of 8 St Paul’s Street, which is set to become its new head office.Planning permission is sought for the demolition of the existing building of a part-eight, part-ten storey purpose-built student accommodation building.A total of 198 studio apartments would be created across two blocks.The plans also include a landscaped courtyard garden, roof terrace, reception, gym, residents’ lounge, secure cycle storage and landscaping.LUNA Student has been named as the intended end user/operator of the proposed development.The scheme is expected to create jobs during construction, as well as indirect employment through the supply chain and induced jobs. The end operator would also employ staff following completion of the building.A planning statement submitted as part of the application said: “The site is located within the City Centre and the proposed development provides the opportunity to redevelop an underutilised brownfield site for PBSA, in an area popular with students due to its strong connectivity to Leeds’universities and key services and facilities.”By providing PBSA in an attractive location, it is expected that family housing currently occupied by students can be released, helping to aid existing housing pressures.”